Americans to face Netherlands in final
LYON, France — When Jackie Groenen received the ball, even though she was outside the penalty area, the Dutch midfielder knew she had to seize her opportunity.
It was 99 minutes into a grueling Women’s World Cup semifinal, and neither the Netherlands nor Sweden was finding a clear path to the goal Wednesday night at Stade de Lyon.
“I saw a nice angle,” Groenen said. “We’ve been discussing this for a couple of weeks now, that I need to take shots more often. The ball just came really nicely, and I thought, ‘Let’s do this.’”
A slick passing sequence ended with Groenen driving a shot past goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl. Her first shot on target in France produced her first goal of the tournament and led to a 1-0 win.
“I’m not much of a scorer,” she said. “But I’m very happy today I got to score.”
It sent the Netherlands into its first Women’s World Cup final, where the eighth-ranked Dutch will face the United States on Sunday at the same stadium that hosted both semifinals.
Two years after the Dutch women won their first major soccer trophy — the European Championship — Groenen already is dreaming of a first world title in only the second attempt for her team.
“It kind of went through my mind as soon as I got off the pitch,” she said. “The Americans are massive, they have massive players. They are the biggest team in the world, but I can’t wait to play.”
Progress for the Dutch has been rapid after reaching the round of 16 during their Women’s World Cup debut four years ago.
“The potential for the Netherlands has been there for a long time,” Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman said. “Since 2007, when the Eredivisie (Dutch
women’s professional soccer league) started and players got better facilities and could train more, the players developed so much that they improved. And then when you’re at big tournaments, like European Championships and World Cups, they develop even more. They made transfers to big clubs in Europe.”
One of those is Groenen, who became the first foreign signee for Manchester United after its recently formed women’s team was promoted to England’s Super League in May. Before she pulls on a red jersey, though, Groenen could become a world champion in orange by beating the reigning and three-time champs on Sunday.
“We are very down to earth,” Groenen said, “but they have their own qualities and we have ours.”
One thing the finalists have in common: female coaches. With Jill Ellis leading the United States and Wiegman in charge of the Netherlands, the run of three Women’s World Cupb finals featuring a male coach comes to an end.
“It’s important that women have the opportunity to develop as players, as coaches and in society,” Wiegman said.
After a draining game in sweltering central France, the Dutch have one less day than the Americans to prepare for the title game, and the Netherlands will have to be more potent up front to overcome the top-ranked team.
The second semifinal was no match for the drama, tension and high energy of the previous night, when the United States beat third-ranked England 2-1.
Wednesday’s game included few scoring chances and was only lit up by the goalkeeping in regulation time — particularly in the second half.
A shot from Nilla Fischer was creeping into the net in the 56th minute until Netherlands goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal tipped it onto the post. It was the crossbar that denied the Dutch in the 64th minute when a header from Vivianne Miedema was pushed onto the frame by Lindahl’s fingertips.
The goalkeepers wouldn’t be relied on for a penalty shootout thanks to Groenen’s moment of brilliance, leaving the ninth-ranked Swedes having to settle for bronze if they can beat England on Saturday in Nice.
“I felt like we had a golden opportunity to take this team to the final, and we didn’t take it,” Lindahl said. “Very disappointed.”